Non-invasive energy upconversion methods and systems

Abstract

System for modifying a target structure which mediates or is associated with a biological activity, including treatment of conditions, disorders, or diseases mediated by or associated with a target structure, such as a virus, cell, subcellular structure or extracellular structure. The system can be used in methods which can be performed by application of an initiation energy to a subject in situ to activate a pharmaceutical agent directly or via an energy modulation agent, optionally in the presence of one or more plasmonics active agents, thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for production of emitted light inside a medium to be treated for a disease or disorder, comprising:
 a pharmaceutical carrier; 
 a phosphorescent or luminescent material which, upon activation by an activation energy which penetrates said medium to be treated, produces said emitted light from inside of said medium to be treated to treat the disease in situ, and 
 a non-magnetic metallic structure attached to the phosphorescent or luminescent material. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said non-magnetic metallic structure comprises at least one of Au, Ag, Cu, Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Al, Ga, or a combination or alloys or layers thereof. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphorescent or luminescent material is configured to exhibit ultraviolet emission upon exposure to activation energy. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphorescent or luminescent material is configured to exhibit at least one of infrared, visible, and ultraviolet emission upon exposure to activation energy. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical carrier comprises a photoactivatable drug. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the photoactivatable drug comprises at least one of a psoralen, pyrene cholesteryloleate, acridine, porphyrin, fluorescein, rhodamine, 16-diazorcortisone, ethidium, transition metal complexes of bleomycin, transition metal complexes of deglycobleomycin organoplatinum complexes, alloxazines, vitamin Ks, vitamin L, vitamin metabolites, vitamin precursors, naphthoquinones, naphthalenes, naphthols and derivatives thereof having planar molecular conformations, porphorinporphyrins, dyes and phenothiazine derivatives, coumarins, quinolones, quinones, and anthroquinones, and porphycene, rubyrin, rosarin, hexaphyrin, sapphyrin, chlorophyl, chlorin, phthalocynine, porphyrazine, bacteriochlorophyl, pheophytin, texaphyrin macrocyclic-based component, or a metalated derivative thereof. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the photoactivatable drug comprises at least one of a psoralen or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphorescent or luminescent material comprises a plurality of particles including at least one of a first group which exhibits a visible emission upon interaction with a first wavelength λ 1  and a second group which exhibits ultraviolet light upon interaction with the first wavelength λ 1 . 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first group comprises a diagnostic group for producing imaging light showing a position of the first group in said medium; and the second group comprises a reaction-stimulating group producing a photostimulated reaction in said medium. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an X-ray down-converter disposed in the medium. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein said X-ray down-converter comprises at least one of Y2O3; ZnS; ZnSe; MgS; CaS; Mn, Er ZnSe; Mn, Er MgS; Mn, Er CaS; Mn, Er ZnS; Mn, Yb ZnSe; Mn, Yb MgS; Mn, Yb CaS; Mn, Yb ZnS:Tb3+, Er3+; ZnS:Tb3+; Y2O3:Tb3+; Y2O3:Tb3+, Er3+; ZnS:Mn2+; ZnS:Mn, Er3+, alkali lead silicate including compositions of SiO2, B2O3, Na2O, K 2 O, PbO, MgO, or Ag, and combinations or alloys or layers thereof. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an X-ray source capable of supplying the activation energy. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an infrared source capable of supplying the activation energy. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , further comprising: a fiber optic for insertion into a patient, wherein the infrared source transmits the activation energy through the fiber optic to a target site. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a bioreceptor linked to the phosphorescent or luminescent material and including at least one of antibody probes, DNA probes, and enzyme probes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary agent linked to the phosphorescent or luminescent material and including at least one of secondary emitters, cytotoxic agents, magnetic resonance imaging (MM) agents, positron emission tomography (PET) agents, radiological imaging agents, or photodynamic therapy (PDT) agents. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphorescent or luminescent material comprises a first material which, upon activation, produces said emitted light, wherein said first material has an upconversion capability to produce an up-converted light in a visible or near-infrared or infrared frequency band. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphorescent or luminescent material further comprises a second material having a down conversion capability to produce down converted light in an ultraviolet frequency band or visible frequency band. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphorescent or luminescent material and the pharmaceutical carrier comprise a sterile solution.